PSG vs. Nice: Team News, Preview, Live Stream and TV Info
Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-0 defeat to AS Monaco came 13 days ago. It feels like a lot of time has passed, with the international break coming on Easter weekend. Laurent Blanc will be keen to get his team back to winning ways before their upcoming Champions League clash with Manchester City.
In Nice, the Parisians face a team in good form. After Monaco came to the French capital and picked up a win, Claude Puel will be hoping for a similar outcome.
Three wins in a row against Troyes, Montpellier and Gazelec may not prove that Les Aiglons are true Champions League contenders, but they will be flying high going into Saturday’s game.
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PSG are already champions but need to find form before their huge midweek clash. Nice sit third, but with pressure coming from Rennes, Lyon and others, they may need to take something from this game to stay in that position.
Date: Saturday, April 2, 2016
Time: 4 p.m. BST (11 a.m ET)
Venue: Parc des Princes
TV Info: Canal Plus (France), beIN Sport (US)
Live Stream: beIN Sport Connect (US)
Last five results:
| Paris Saint-Germain | OGC Nice |
| L PSG 0-2 Monaco (Ligue 1) | D Bordeaux 0-0 Nice (Ligue 1) |
| W Troyes 0-9 PSG (Ligue 1) | L Nice 0-2 Bastia (Ligue 1) |
| W Chelsea 1-2 PSG (Champions League) | W Nice 2-1 Troyes (Ligue 1) |
| D PSG 0-0 Montpellier (Ligue 1) | W Montpellier 0-2 Nice (Ligue 1) |
| W Saint-Etienne 1-3 PSG (Coupe de France) | W Nice 3-0 Gazelec (Ligue 1) |
There is some interesting team news coming out of the capital. PSG confirmed (in French) that Serge Aurier’s first-team suspension is over and he is back in consideration. However, he was not named in Blanc’s squad for the game.
He will join Angel Di Maria, Javier Pastore and Marco Verratti on the sidelines. The hope is that the two Argentinian players are fit for the test against Manchester City on Wednesday, Verratti is a much bigger doubt.
Predicted Formation:
PSG (4-3-3): Kevin Trapp; Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Layvin Kurzawa; Thiago Motta, Adrien Rabiot, Blaise Matuidi; Edinson Cavani, Lucas Moura, Zlatan Ibrahimovic
During the last three victories, Puel has mixed up the front line with great success. Hatem Ben Arfa started the last two games, scoring the opener in the 3-0 win over Gazelec. Both Valere Germain and Alassane Plea have shown good form, too.
If the former Lyon coach can continue to work that trio together, they have more than enough to trouble the PSG defence.
Former PSG player, Mathieu Bodmer is still injured (in French), so Maxime Le Marchand will continue in the back four. Another problem for Puel is the suspension of Jeremy Pied, giving him a headache at right-back. Expect Ricardo Pereira to play on the right and Niklas Hult on the left.
Predicted Formation:
Nice (4-3-1-2): Yoan Cardinale; Ricardo Pereira, Paul Baysse, Maxime Le Marchand, Jeremy Pied; Nampalys Mendy, Jean Michel Seri, Vincent Koziello; Hatem Ben Arfa; Valere Germain, Alassane Plea
Player to Watch
Hatem Ben Arfa is the one player on the away side that can take his game to the next level and invoke fear into the hearts of the Parc des Princes crowd.
He has 12 goals and four assists this season, which on the whole is a great return, but his form certainly hasn’t mirrored his electric start to the season.
However, he does have two assists in his last two games, showing that he is capable of providing on both fronts. Against PSG, it will be his creativity that will be more important than his scoring ability.
Key Battle
As Monaco showed in their 2-0 win, if you can pressure the PSG midfield, force them into decisions and push the tempo, you can win the ball and create chances.
Playing at the base of the Nice midfield, only Thiago Motta, who he will face on Saturday, has touched the ball as much as the 23-year-old Nampalys Mendy.
Speaking to the official OGCN website (in French), Mendy suggested that all other Ligue 1 sides have tried many different game plans to beat PSG, but it was important that they stuck to their own game plan.
He admitted that it would be difficult, but the season doesn’t end after this trip to Paris.
The way that Mendy dictates the play and his composure both on and off the ball will be vital if Nice are to get the better of Thiago Motta, Matuidi and Rabiot.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Home win: 100/357
Away win: 11/1
Draw: 409/100
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